Parade rejects gay-rights group; Harvard school will march after all

HARVARD -- The Immaculate Heart of Mary School is back in the parade after learning that MassEquality was rejected.

The South Boston Allied War Veterans Council alleged that LGBT Veterans for Equality misled them, stating on their application that they had 20 willing veterans to march, according to a press release.

At the closed-door meeting on Sunday, the council said it was clear that the group only had one proposed veteran to march.

"It is our belief that the application submitted to us by LGBT Veterans for Equality was a ploy by them to enter this parade under false pretenses and is hereby denied," the group says in the press release.

Yet MassEquality has stated that it will not march unless it can do so openly. MassEquality has not yet released a statement regarding the council's decision.

With the group's rejection, the school will march with a float and its marching band once again this year.

"We heard the good news that the applicaton by MassEquality was rejected, so we're back in," said Brother Thomas Dalton, principal of the school. "The students were very happy when I announced that this morning."

Dalton said the decision was terrific and everyone applauded when they heard it.

"We thank the veterans for taking a stand," he said. "Our hats off to them.

The school announced Tuesday that it was going to pull out of the parade after seeing reports that the gay-rights group would be allowed to march.

Advertisement

After the first decision to withdraw, Dalton said that the school did not want to appear to condone the homosexual lifestyle that is contrary to the church and what St. Patrick stood for.

"We decided years ago that if the gays ever marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, we would not march with our school or with the float that we provide with St. Patrick on it," he said.

Multiple media reports claimed that parade organizers have invited MassEquality, the statewide advocacy group, to march this year.

But MassEquality had clarified in a statement that they have not reached a formal deal with parade organizers, and only learned about the invitation through a media report.

On Sunday night, the group met with a parade organizer, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who has been pushing for the group's acceptance into the parade. The group maintains that it will only march if lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people can march "openly and honestly," according to a statement from Executive Director Kara Coredini issued on Monday.

Coredini said on Monday that no agreement had been reached, but there was an ongoing conversation.

"The fact that parade organizers are willing to have a continuing conversation with MassEquality about LGBT people and the parade is important and historic," she said in the statement.

Coredini did not return a call to comment on the school's decision to withdraw.

Even if the group marched without any obvious LGBT signs, Dalton said the school would not change its mind.

"I think for us it's black and white," he said. "If they're in in any way, then we're not going to be participating."

The school will now have its 45-member band march in front of a float carrying a few other students. This year is the band's 25th year in the parade, according to a statement from the school band director.

After the decision to withdraw, Dalton said the students are disappointed, but are "very much behind" the school's decision. Dalton had said that the school would still like to be involved if the advocacy group did not end up in the parade.

Walsh has threatened not to march in the annual parade if the group is excluded.

Walsh said in a statement on Monday that last night's meeting between MassEquality and parade organizers was positive.

"I believe the conversation that took place in my office last night, and the conversations about diversity and inclusion that are taking place in our neighborhoods, and across our country, make our communities stronger," he said.

Walsh said the parties remain optimistic about a solution for an "inclusive celebration."

But Dalton said on Monday that it is "too bad" that Walsh intervened.

"I think he knows better," Dalton said. "He's Irish Catholic and he's not standing behind what the church believes and teaches."

After announcing the school's initial withdrawal, Dalton said the school was disappointed to learn about the invitation.

"We think the organizers have been cajoled by the new mayor," he said.

The school also pulled out of the parade in the early '90s when another gay rights group was allowed to march, Dalton said. State courts ordered the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council -- the parade organizer -- to include the Irish American Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Group of Boston in the parade.

Dalton said the school testified in the state's Superior Court back then, explaining the reason they pulled out.

When the issue went to the Supreme Court with John "Wacko" Hurley as the plaintiff, all nine justices ruled in the council's favor and the parade was not required to include the group.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.